So-Co Living
So-Co Living
[Social Housing - Cooperative Community]
The housing situation in Los Angeles County is a mess. Throughout LA, affordability and availability are in a constant state of flux. When the housing market predicts lower costs, there is no housing to be found. When housing is abundant, the cost outweighs the financial feasibility for a majority of people. LA needs to rethink its current approach to housing. Rather than reintroducing the same affordable housing typology, which merely tries to maximize the number ofhousing units within a building, social housing provides residents with smaller, private spaces and larger shared spaces for cooking, eating, and entertainment. With this approach, the building achieves greater efficiency by housing more people for a cheaper price per unit. After conducting a contextual analysis, I discovered the proposed site was lacking basic services for residents within the project, as well as the surrounding communities. My response was to design a housing project that incorporated ideas of social housing in addition to several on-site amenities, including a market, laundry, gardens, and park. Also, I re-purposed the adjacent site into a communal garden for residents and the surrounding communities. By creating a design that serves both the residents and surrounding communities, the project generates daily essentials and opportunities for social and economic exchange.
Site Analysis
Massing Parti
Communal Floors: 1-2
Resident Floors: 3-5
Unit Perspective - Plans
Model
